The country's top soldier praised the Royal Air Force as "exceptional" in the wake of comments by an officer condemning its performance in Afghanistan as "utterly, utterly useless".

The Chief of General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, pictured, lavished praise on the RAF's efforts in support of the ground forces, described the remarks made by Major James Loden of 3 Para as "irresponsible".

Major Loden, serving in the Helmand province, made the comments in emails. In them, he warns that more helicopters and manpower are "desperately" needed for the operation to succeed.

Gen Dannatt said: "The way the RAF has performed in support of our operations in Afghanistan has been exceptional."